What happens in court?

You will go to court every few months until the case is decided. The judge will want to check in periodically as the court and lawyers are gathering information about your family. The judge will also want to give you time to work on your goals and make the changes necessary to prevent your child from being removed again.

It is very important that you go to court. You must go to all hearings unless your lawyer and the judge say you should not. If you don’t attend a hearing, the judge may believe that you don’t care and may hold it against you. When you are at court, you need to show the judge and DCF that you care about what is going on for your family and that you love your child.

You will be held in custody if you have any open warrants.

Try to work out any differences. If you are unhappy with the job that your lawyer is doing, tell them.

If you cannot work things out, as a last resort you may ask your lawyer to withdraw from your case. The judge will decide if your lawyer can withdraw and will also decide whether to give you a different lawyer.

Judges usually will not replace a lawyer unless there is a good reason.

You have the right to talk to your lawyer in private. Your lawyer cannot tell anyone what you say unless you say it’s okay. Talking to other people—like helpers or doctors—may not be private. The rules can be confusing, so always ask your lawyer what is private and what can be shared in court. It’s best to talk to your lawyer before sharing anything about your case.

Talk to your lawyer before meeting with anyone involved in your case. Your lawyer may give you specific directions about people you should (or should not) speak to and what you should (or should not) say to them.

It is essential to have effective communication with your lawyer throughout the case.

Maintain regular contact with your lawyer. If you move at any time, make sure your lawyer knows how to reach you. Be sure to tell your lawyer any changes in your life that may be important to your case.

Don’t keep secrets from your lawyer. Your lawyer can’t do a good job representing you unless they have all the information.

It is your job to tell your lawyer what you want for your family.
It is your lawyer’s job to work toward that goal.